Deed, circa 1150
    (Geofrey de Ivoi restores land that he has unrightfully taken from some nuns)

Deed of Feoffment, 1313
    (original in Latin, with English translation; livery of seisin endorsed)

A Charter, 1444, dealing with land in Good Easter and Mashbury (along with photo of the original)

A fine, or final agreement, 1575
    (A fine is a document made in court for the purpose of proving ownership of land; it was the result of a fictitious lawsuit.  Because it was made in court and became part of the record, it was a very reliable way to prove ownership.  Original is in Latin; translation provided)

Indentures, 1747 (conveyance by lease and release)
    (Indentures were generally on parchment and, like these, were extremely longwinded.  The top was cut in a wavy pattern--indented-- so that it could be authenticated by comparing it with the duplicate copy made at the same time.  Note the reference to the proverbial "peppercorn" of consideration.   Note that in the second indenture, the sentence beginning This indenture witnesseth... goes on for 1444 words without a period.)

A Fine (Final Agreement), 1747 or 1748
    (As opposed to the fine above, this one is in English)

American colonial grant deed (1751) (photo)
    (unlike most English deeds, early American deeds were usually on printed forms--but see the Pennsylvania deed below)

A federal land grant (1835)

Mortgage, Alabama (1841)

Indenture deed, Pennsylvania (1845)
    (notice that this early American deed is on parchment and very similar in style to English deeds of the period)

Lease of allotted land, Brule Sioux Reservation (1919) (page 1) (page 2)
    (Notice that Charging Woman signs with her thumbprint, rather than the customary X)